What is the National Student Poets Program?

The National Student Poets Program is the nation’s highest honor for youth poets presenting original work. It is a collaboration of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. Each year, the Program selects five high school poets whose work exhibits exceptional creativity, dedication to craft, and promise for a year of service as national poetry ambassadors. Each National Student Poet represents one of five regions of the country and receives an academic award of $5,000. The Poets’ appointment events are hosted in cooperation with the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and held in conjunction with the National Book Festival.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the exclusive pathway to be considered for the National Student Poets Program. Students must receive a National Medal in poetry through blind adjudication by a panel of distinguished jurors. From the top-awarded works, a national jury of literary luminaries and leaders in education and the arts selects five student poets, based on the student’s creativity, promise, and dedication to craft. To learn more, visit artandwriting.org/NSPP.